The Relais & Châteaux Association – a collection of some of the world’s finest hotels and restaurants – held its 36th annual congress in the Mother City on November 9, 2010.

Relais & Châteaux International President Juame Tàpies hosted a gala dinner for hundreds of association members – top hoteliers, chefs and restaurateurs – and media representatives, where he also announced 36 new members.

The event took place in a Bedouin tent overlooking Camps Bay. A four-course meal was catered by award-winning chefs Margot Janse of Le Quartier Français and Peter Tempelhoff of The Cellars-Hohenort with assistance from Bertus Basson.

Tàpies said that he felt “honoured to hold this year’s congress in Cape Town”.

“This congress took over a year of planning and employed some of South Africa’s finest industry specialists, who ensured a true African experience,” he explained.